On the news tonight was a brief item about a fantastic new British Library resource, featuring a bank of recordings of UK accents and other regional speech markers. I thought some of you might be interested:

Wo-ow; I just listened to the Yorkshire baker lady. Before I forget: I noticed that in this 1955 recording, she mentions a half a pound of sugar. Golly--even though she's speaking so slowly, I have a hard time understanding some things. Owen--oven; buther and wather: butter and water; resins -- raisins; luf--loaf.

When my Yorkshire host family spoke to each other at their normal speed, I couldn't follow it at all. Thanks, mav!

Perhaps others already use this and I have simply missed your mention of it, but in case itís new to you too, I strongly suggest you check it out. There are an incredible number of interesting searchable texts available. Hereís a direct link to perhaps the most useful area for this board:

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